Acousto-optic liquid-crystal analog beam former for phased-array antennas

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Abstract

A compact phased-array antenna acousto-optic beam former with element-level analog phase (0-27π) and amplitude control using nematic-liquid-crystal display-type technology is experimentally demonstrated. Measurements indicate >6-bit phase control and 52.6 dB of amplitude-attenuation control. Highquality error calibration and antenna sidelobe-level control is possible with this low-control-power analog beam former. Optical system options using rf Bragg cells or wideband Bragg cells are discussed, with the rf design being the current preferred approach. Transmit-receive beam forming based on frequency upconversion-downconversion by electronic mixing is introduced for the rf Bragg-cell beam former, and comparisons with digital beam forming are highlighted. A millimeter-wave signal generation and control optical architecture is described.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)3712-3724
Number of pages13
JournalApplied Optics
Volume33
Issue number17
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 10 Jun 1994
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Analog
  • Bragg cells
  • Nematic liquid crystals
  • Phased-array antenna

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